Our History

Our school was originally founded in 1946 as Akiba Hebrew Academy.  A group of public-minded Jewish citizens, lay and professional, who were deeply concerned about preparing students to assume responsibility in their community as leaders and active citizens founded the school. They set out to establish an intensive program of Jewish studies integrated with a comprehensive college preparatory program. It was the vision of the founders that Jewish adolescents come together to study their common heritage in a pluralistic setting, learning to respect all positions and the sincerity with which they are held.

On September 11, 1946, 20 boys and girls, the principal, Mr. Oscar Divinsky, and five teachers assembled in a room at the YMHA at Broad and Pine Streets, where a floor had been rented to house the school. Within just two years, the space and equipment had become inadequate and the school moved to larger quarters at B'nai Jeshurun Synagogue in Strawberry Mansion. When the first class of 13 students was graduated from Akiba Hebrew Academy in 1951, the student body had grown to 100. In 1954, when still larger facilities were needed, a third home was found for the school at Har Zion Temple in Wynnefield. In 1956, Akiba Hebrew Academy moved to its present site in Merion Station.

Expansion

In 1974, in response to a growing student body and the need for additional facilities, an additional classroom building and a new auditorium/gymnasium were constructed. This expansion of the physical plant provided increased opportunity for both an innovative educational program and an expanded sports program, and increased the capacity of the school to 350 students.

Change and Growth

In March 2007 Akiba received a $5,000,000 gift from the Barrack Foundation, earmarked 90% for scholarship and 10% for teacher enhancement.  In September 2007 the school was renamed the Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy, in memory of the late brother of Leonard Barrack '60.

Exciting changes continued when, in June 2007, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia purchased the 35 acre American College Campus in Bryn Mawr, Radnor Township, Delaware County, to become a Jewish community educational campus, with the Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy as the anchor tenant.  This will give the school the opportunity to grow and prosper from its current limited capacity of 350 students.  The move to the new campus will take place for the 2008-2009 school year.  The Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy will build upon the illustrious history of Akiba Hebrew Academy.